Littleton residents walk to raise suicide awareness

The See A New Sun Foundation's suicide prevention walk on Sept. 9 in Littleton raised $3,000.

Alexander Silva asilva@wickedlocal.com @IndieEagleWL

More than 150 people turned out for nonprofit See A New Sun Foundation’s annual suicide prevention walk in Littleton.

The Sept. 9 event started at Fay Park and took participants on a 3-mile walk around town in an effort to increase awareness of suicide, raising $3,000 for the cause.

See A New Sun Foundation President Barbara Whitcomb and a group of concerned citizens founded the organization in 2002 after Barbara’s son Bryan Whitcomb died by suicide in 2000 at the age of 31.

"I with other family members and friends of my son, Bryan, met together about a year after Bryan died by suicide," Whitcomb said. "We all wanted to and needed to do something to help others in some way not go through the pain of a loved one’s suicide by preventing suicide."

Since then, the nonprofit has hosted eight suicide prevention walks while also supporting a number of programs and initiatives aimed at preventing suicides and educating people on how to help.

A mission to see tomorrow

The See A New Sun Foundation uses education as the key to suicide prevention, focusing efforts on advocacy and funding for school based suicide and mental health education programs.

The nonprofit works directly with schools, churches, and local organizations to raise awareness of the true nature of suicide and give organizations the tools to prevent suicide. The group funds suicide prevention programs and works to bring down the stigma associated with suicide in secondary schools, according to Whitcomb.

The See A New Sun Foundation has participated in many activities with the Northeast Coalition for Suicide Prevention, the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, added Whitcomb.

The foundation provides the Signs of Suicide (SOS) mental health screening program free of charge to high schools and middle schools throughout Massachusetts.

The SOS program teaches students how to identify the symptoms of depression and suicide in themselves or their friends, and encourages help seeking.

The SOS High School program is the only school-based suicide prevention program listed on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices that addresses suicide risk and depression, while reducing suicide attempts.

"We provide a survivor support group for family members, friends, co-workers, and anyone who has lost someone to suicide," said Whitcomb. "We brought William James INTERFACE Resource and Referral Services to Littleton where anyone living in or going to school (through a parent or guardian) in Littleton can consult with a mental health professional about resources and receive personalized matched referrals."

The William James INTERFACE Resource and Referral Services take calls from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at: 1-888-244-6843.

"We also attend and have mental health informational materials at back to school nights, health fairs and any place we are requested to be," Whitcomb said. "We also can provide programs on suicide and other mental health issues to organizations wishing to have such programs."

See A New Sun Foundation has also provided funding to help Wellesley-based Screening for Mental Health provide educators and parents of students receiving the SOS program with portals to keep up with the SOS program, according to Whitcomb.

"Family and friends can help someone struggling with thoughts of suicide talking to them privately if possible, listen to them and let them know you care about them," Whitcomb said. "Ask directly ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ (Help) by encouraging them to seek treatment and helping them to get help, if they have their own doctor or therapist encourage them call them, stay with them. Always take them seriously. Remove lethal means."

The See A New Sun Foundation is planning on bringing guest speakers to schools in the area to help educated people, Whitcomb said.

"Our hope is to bring some excellent lived experience speakers to schools and communities in and around Littleton and, of course, continue to do what we do now if it helps prevent suicide and keeps people aware of the seriousness of all mental illness issues," said Whitcomb.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800- 273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line by texting: TALK to 741-741.